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On the 15 November 2024, representatives of the National Federation of Cypriots in the UK delivered resolutions to UK Prime Minister Kier Starmer MP and the Turkish Ambassador in London Osman Koray Ertaş to mark 41 dark years since the occupation regime in Cyprus’ illegal ‘Unilateral Declaration of Independence.’ These letters call for the end of the illegal occupation of the island, as well as the presence of occupying troops and the system of guarantees through the resumption of negotiations on the Cyprus issue.
In the afternoon, Federation President Christos Karaolis, Vice President Andreas Papaevripides (POMAK President), General Secretary Antonia Michaelides, Executive Secretary Andreas Karaolis as well as NEPOMAK Global and UK Presidents Christos Tuton and Adrian Patsalos delivered the resolution to the Prime Minister at 10 Downing Street. The letter refers to the illegal ‘UDI’ as a “failed attempt to formalise the on-going occupation Cyprus, which has refused the right to return to over 200,000 displaced persons.” It adds that “the entire international community, with the exception of Turkey, shares the policy of non-recognition in accordance to international law.”
The letter also welcomed the recent informal meeting between President Nikos Christodoulides, Turkish Cypriot Leader Ersin Tatar and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres in New York on 15th October. Following this, the letter makes clear that “It is our expectation that HMG’s participation in upcoming guarantor meetings will be at Ministerial level.” It urges “HMG to be unequivocally clear that the only basis for a solution is the agreed UN framework, and that the current security system of unilateral guarantees and foreign troops is anachronistic and must be abolished.”
In the evening, Federation Secretariat members delivered the resolution to the Turkish Ambassador at Turkey’s Embassy in London. The letter states that, instead of reversing the illegal ‘UDI,’ “Turkey has continued to ignore calls from Cypriots and the international community to right the wrong of its invasion and on-going occupation.”
The letter also highlights that “in all these 50 years, our diaspora has remained steadfast in its desire for a free, united Cyprus, without occupying troops or guarantor powers.” The letter concludes by urging the Turkish Ambassador, “on behalf of the Cypriot community of your host country, to abandon your partition policy and return to the negotiating table within the agreed UN framework.”
Letters were also sent to the Leaders of Opposition parliamentary political parties, the Presidents of the European Parliament, Commission and Council, the Ambassadors of the Permanent Members of the United Nations Security Council, as well as the EU Ambassador in the UK. These also marked the dark anniversary of the illegal UDI, urging them to actively support efforts to bring about freedom, reunification and peace in Cyprus.
